Understanding and optimizing core web vitals
Google has implemented core web vitals to evaluate and optimize the performance of websites. Here you can find out everything you need to know about this topic.
A positive user experience is crucial for the success of any website. It has an impact on visitor retention, conversions and brand image. Slow and unstable websites, on the other hand, deter visitors and lead to lower conversion rates.
To evaluate and optimize the performance of websites, Google has implemented the Core Web Vitals. The loading time, interactivity and visual stability of a page are the focus of these metrics. In this article, you will learn what the Core Web Vitals are and why they are important. We will give you some practical tips on how you can optimize your website accordingly.
What are Core Web Vitals?
The Core Web Vitals consist of three central metrics:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Indicates how long it takes for the largest visible content component of the page to load. A short LCP time indicates that the most important content on the page can be seen quickly.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Measures the visual stability of the page by detecting unexpected layout shifts during loading. A low CLS value means that elements on the page do not suddenly change position.
- First Input Delay (FID)
Measures the time between a user's first interaction with the page and the browser's response. A short FID time means that the page responds quickly to user actions.
Why are Core Web Vitals important?
Overall, the user experience improves when all three metrics perform well. Together, they significantly increase engagement and user experience. Satisfied users who stay on the site longer and are more likely to make purchases or consume more content come from a website that is responsive and visually consistent. Have you ever clicked on pages or lost your reading position while reading an article because an advertisement suddenly loaded? For many, this is a reason to avoid sites and switch to competitor sites.
Real-world examples
- Etsy
The e-commerce platform was able to improve the user experience by optimizing loading times. This led to an increase in conversions.
- BBC
The time users spent on the site was significantly increased by optimizing loading times and visual stability.
Core Web Vitals were also incorporated into Google's ranking algorithms. It is more likely that websites that perform well in these metrics will rank higher in search results.
How can you improve your Core Web Vitals?
Optimization of images and resources
- Compression
Use image formats such as WebP or compressed JPEGs to reduce the file size and shorten the loading time. - CDNs
Use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to deliver content from servers that are geographically closer to the user. - Lazy Loading
Implement lazy loading for images so that they are only loaded when they appear in the visible area of the screen.
Minimization of JavaScript and CSS (FID)
- Cleanup
Eliminate superfluous JavaScript and CSS files and third-party scripts that increase loading times. - Asynchronous loading
JavaScript files are only loaded after the main content has been rendered if they are loaded asynchronously or with the “defer-” attribute. - Minification
Use tools such as UglifyJS and CSSNano to minify JavaScript and CSS files and reduce their size.
Avoidance of layout shifts (CLS)
- Placeholders
To avoid changes to the layout, use placeholders with fixed dimensions for images and dynamic content. - Font preview
Use a fallback font that is displayed until the custom font is loaded. - Size attributes
To ensure that the space on the page is reserved and the layout remains stable, specify height and width for all photos and videos.
Best practices and tools
Use programs such as PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to analyze the performance of your website and identify opportunities for optimization. These tools provide detailed reports as well as specific suggestions for improvement.
To ensure your website is optimized for performance and usability from the start, choose an experienced web design and web development team for development. Ensure that website performance is continuously monitored and regularly reviewed to identify errors and issues early on. Your marketing team can monitor the Core Web Vitals in the Google Search Console, for example, and forward problems to the development department.
Conclusion
Load time (LCP), interactivity (FID) and visual stability (CLS) are measured by Core Web Vitals. Improving the user experience and SEO ranking of your website is achieved through good values of these metrics. Your Core Web Vitals can be improved through targeted optimizations, continuous monitoring and the use of performance analysis tools to ensure an optimal user experience.
Invest a little time in this topic to give your users the best possible experience. They will thank you with good conversions and long dwell times.